Top Destinations to Move to in the South Island

Looking for somewhere with affordable housing, job opportunities galore and a safe environment to raise your children? The South Island is an exciting, beautiful and liveable place that ticks all of these boxes.

Each part of the island has its own unique charm. From the bustling streets of Christchurch to the action and adventure of Queenstown, the South Island presents a range of different lifestyle choices for every different type of person and family.

Here, we ask the experts at New Zealand Movers about the top destinations to move to in New Zealand’s beautiful South Island.

Christchurch

New Zealand’s second largest city is an interesting mix of mountains, beaches, rivers and cosmopolitan living. Like most of the South Island, Christchurch has a serious advantage in terms of house prices. For example, while the median house price in Auckland is now over $1mil, the Canterbury region has a median house price of just $680k. Quite the difference! Still in the rebuilding phase from the 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch is a fast-growing city with job opportunities in IT, technology and construction.

Dunedin

Dunedin is an underrated gem on the South Island. A university city, it’s the perfect place for students thanks to the highly-esteemed University of Otago, ranked in the world’s top 1% of universities. It’s also home to a distinct mix of Scottish and Maori culture, with beautiful Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Dunedin is known for its strong job market in the areas of education, healthcare and professional services.

Nelson

Art galleries, wineries, mountains, beaches – this compact little jewel facing Tasman Bay is one of the best cities to live in on the South Island. Nelson is home to New Zealand’s biggest fishing port, meaning that well-paid jobs in fishing and agriculture attract many new locals each year. One of New Zealand’s safest cities, Nelson is a great place for children to grow up, and go hiking and swimming on the weekends.

Wanaka

Snow-capped mountains and huge alpine lakes mark the resort town of Wanaka in Otago. The gateway to the Southern Alps, it’s a popular town in winter due to alpine sports. Wanaka is a fantastic place to live for those in tourism and alpine education, presenting a safe and interesting place for children to grow up.

No matter where you decide is the right place on the South Island for you and your family to move to, make sure you pick a trusted moving service like New Zealand Movers. New Zealand Movers are one of the country’s most experienced and highly-regarded furniture movers, with 42 years of experience in the industry. New Zealand Movers can help you get settled in your new home, whether you’re on the North Island, South Island, or somewhere across the globe. Grab a quote from the friendly team today!

 

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What are the Best Suburbs in Dunedin?

It’s a city that’s known for its Scottish roots, creative vibe and universities: Dunedin is one of the South Island’s biggest gems. There’s no wonder why you’d want to move there – a beautiful, eco-friendly city with a progressive air, paired with affordable housing… it sounds too good to be true, right? Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty if you’re thinking of moving to Dunedin. In this post, we’ll go through some of the city’s best suburbs and who to call if you’re ready to make the move.

The Best Suburbs in Dunedin, Ōtepoti

St Clair

A quaint beachside suburb, St Clair is one of the best pockets of Dunedin. When you live in St Clair, all you’ll want to do is head to the beach, no matter what month of the year it is. St Clair is home to one of the South Island’s best beaches, so it’s fair that so many people want a little part of it. Oh, and it’s also just 5km from the CBD! Beachside living and central lifestyle combined? Yep, it’s only possible in St Clair.

Mornington

A family-friendly hotspot is the hillside suburb of Mornington. It’s one of the best suburbs in Dunedin, for sure. There are great schools and plenty of parks around, meaning your kids will get the best quality of life in Mornington. But it’s not just great for kids – there are plenty of ‘adult playgrounds’ around too! In the main strip of Mailer Street, there are buzzing cafes and restaurants. Everyone’s a winner when you live in Mornington.

Opoho

One of Dunedin’s most prestigious suburbs is located on a hill and goes by the name of Opoho. It offers breathtaking views of the city and is a popular suburb for people of all demographics – from students to retirees. Students find this suburb a dream due to its proximity to universities. If you’re a sucker for views, then Opoho could be the suburb to lure you in the most. It offers a beautiful view of the local gardens!

North East Valley

Feel like escaping the hustle and bustle of the city, while still remaining close by? North East Valley is a great option for you. Right on the edge of town, but still, just a short drive or bus ride into the CBD, North East Valley offers some great views of the city. It’s also home to the world’s steepest residential street, Baldwin Street!

Choosing your dream suburb in Dunedin isn’t always easy – after all, you’re spoilt for choice. Once you make your decision, give the team at New Zealand Movers a call! They’re expert movers who help relocate people like you to the suburbs of Dunedin every day. For a stress-free moving experience (with a stress-free price tag) contact New Zealand Movers and start your new life in Dunedin today. Request a moving quote online or call our friendly team on: 0800 000 022

Dunedin's Best Suburbs | New Zealand Movers

What are the Best Suburbs in Christchurch?

It’s the largest city on the South Island, and there’s a heck of a lot of reasons to call it home: Christchurch. This small but mighty city has a spirit like no other, making it a truly special and unique place. So, if you were going to move to Christchurch, where would you hang your hat? There are plenty of great spots to settle down in Christchurch – in fact, it can be hard to narrow the list down. That’s what we’ll try to do in this post: these are the best suburbs in Christchurch.

Merivale

Beautiful character buildings, tree-lined streets and the air of affluence. This sounds like Merivale to us! Merivale is one of the best suburbs in Christchurch for a number of reasons. For starters, it’s in a central location, not taking long to head into the CBD. It’s also known for its local mall where you’ll find boutique shops, fashion outlets, cafes and bars. If you’ve got the budget for it, moving to Merivale is well worth it.

Sumner

A seaside haven nestled in a beautiful valley. This is what you get when you move to Sumner. One of the oldest settlements in Christchurch, Sumner has always been a desirable place to live. You’ll enjoy a laidback coastal lifestyle in a vibrant suburb that’s as safe as it is cool. Strolling to the beach in the summer months is what the Sumner locals tend to enjoy most, being a popular spot for surfers.

Ferrymead

After the 2011 earthquakes in Christchurch, Ferrymead was one suburb that got a total makeover. Many businesses decided to make Ferrymead their new home, and that has transformed the suburb into a bustling pocket for retail and hip restaurants. With a short drive to the CBD, you’ll have no problems in terms of commuting when you live in Ferrymead. It’s also home to the super quaint Ferrymead Heritage Park – recreating Christchurch life in the Edwardian era.

Riccarton

A suburb that can cater to most budgets is Riccarton. With a mix of townhouses, character homes and units, Riccarton offers a central location and a great cosmopolitan lifestyle. The café and bar scenes are thriving, meaning it’s the perfect place for young and upcoming professionals. Families are also attracted to the Riccarton area, with good schools and plenty of parks and playgrounds just around the corner.

Choosing a suburb to live in Christchurch is difficult because there are so many to choose from. Once you make your decision, give the team at New Zealand Movers a call! They’re expert movers who help relocate people like you to the suburbs of Christchurch every day. For a stress-free moving experience (with a stress-free price tag) request a quote from the team at New Zealand Movers and start your new life as a Cantabrian today.

what are the best suburbs in christchurch

Five Reasons to Move to Christchurch

It’s a city of nature, culture and incredible spirit. There are hundreds of reasons to make the move to Christchurch. As the largest city on the South Island, you can live a North Island lifestyle without the North Island price tag. A modern, progressive city, people in Christchurch enjoy great food and drink while being surrounded by natural beauty everywhere. Let’s go through our top five reasons to move to Christchurch and who to call if you want a little help getting there.

1) Affordability

So many people have been driven away from the North Island by the insane house prices. The South Island has a different story. It’s hard to find something worth the money in the cities of Auckland and Wellington, and house prices are rising in smaller cities like Hamilton and Tauranga. But in Christchurch, the cost of living is noticeably cheaper, and you’ll be sure to find something you love at an affordable price.

2) Plenty of work

You need a job to be able to move somewhere. Fortunately, in Christchurch, the job market is absolutely booming. If you work in construction or IT in particular, Christchurch is calling your name. There are plenty of other areas where Christchurch is top of the list in employment growth. A good place to start – look around on job websites! See what Christchurch has to offer for you.

3) Big city life

So, theoretically, when you move to the South Island, you have to trade off the ‘big city’ perks, right? Not at all. In Christchurch, you’ve got state of the art educational facilities, hospitals and an international airport. Now, throw in the other perks of a modern city like arts and entertainment, great food and drink and a bustling nightlife. What else could you possibly need?

4) Cuisine

Christchurch has some of New Zealand’s best food and drink. Wine bars, trendy cafes, cuisines from around the globe… there isn’t much you can’t get your hands on in Christchurch. Arts and food are thoroughly entwined in Christchurch, with local creatives using their artistic flair to spruce up many eateries here.

5) Nature vibes

Christchurch is basically synonymous with ‘the great outdoors’. With rivers, beaches and mountains, there’s something outdoorsy for everybody in Christchurch. Taylor’s Mistake is a popular spot for surfers, who then drive up to Sumner for a sesh of snowboarding, possibly on the same day. How cool is that?!

So, are you ready to make the move to Christchurch? We bet you are! First, you’ll be needing a little help from an A-grade moving company like New Zealand Movers. They move people just like you into the city of Christchurch all the time, so they’re seasoned professionals at it. With great rates and great service, call up New Zealand Movers for a quote today.

five reasons to move to christchurch